Will China Protect Intellectual Property? New Developments in Counterfeiting, Piracy, and Forced Technology Transfer

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For several years, this Commission has noted that intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement in China remains weak, and counterfeiting and piracy continue to be widespread across many sectors of the Chinese economy. This is the case despite significant changes to China's intellectual property rights regime since China began preparing for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). More recently, China's policy on indigenous innovation and utilization of other market access requirements to force technology transfer have put non-Chinese firms at a competitive disadvantage in China, resulting in the loss of U.S. market share. Witnesses examined trends in counterfeiting, piracy, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; how China is pressuring foreign companies, including U.S. firms, to transfer advanced technology to China; and the impact on American jobs and businesses. Witnesses included experts in technology policy, industry, and labor.

View a recorded webcast of this hearing here.